System for Preventing Undue Bending of Cables

ABSTRACT

A cable system is disclosed including a central cable; an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding the cable, thereby forming an inner chamber around the central cable, the inner chamber containing a gas or at least one chemical; and an outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane and forming an outer chamber around the inner chamber, the outer chamber comprising a gas or at least one chemical. When the minimum bend radius of the inner membrane is exceeded, the inner membrane fractures or breaks, and the gas or at least one chemical from the inner chamber enters the outer chamber to create a chemiluminescence reaction, color, or smell.

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.13/692,061, filed on Dec. 3, 2012, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a cable system and to methods forpreventing undue or unwanted bending of a cable.

Modern high bandwidth networking cables, for example fiber-optic cables,have strict limitations on their so-called bend radius. For example,with reference to FIG. 1, a minimum bend radius 100 for an unshieldedcable may be about 8 times the cable diameter and a minimum bend radiusof a shielded cable may be about 12 times the cable diameter. Theminimum bend radius is the radius beyond which a cable should not bebent without risking damage to the integrity of the cable. The minimumbend radius sometimes appears in fine print on the outside of a cable.However, these cables are thicker than ever, and more and more cablesare being stuffed into a fixed amount of space around data center racks,in the plenum, or on raised cable guides. Thus, it is inevitable thatinstallers will sometimes try to over-bend the cables and, in theprocess, compromise the quality or even destroy the cables.

There is therefore a need for cables with strict bend width limitationsand methods whereby installers are clearly notified as soon as theyattempt to over-bend cables.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a cable systemcomprises (1) a central cable; (2) an inner membrane having a higherminimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding the centralcable, thereby creating an inner chamber, the inner chamber containing agas or at least one chemical; and (3) an outer membrane surrounding theinner membrane and creating an outer chamber, the outer chambercontaining a gas or at least one chemical. When the minimum bend radiusof the inner membrane is exceeded, the inner membrane fractures orbreaks, and the gas or at least one chemical in the inner chamber entersthe outer chamber to create a chemiluminescence reaction, a color, or asmell.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a cable systemcomprises (1) a central cable; (2) an inner membrane having a higherminimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding the centralcable, thereby creating an inner chamber, the inner chamber containing agas or at least one chemical; and (3) a clear, transparent, ortranslucent outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane, therebycreating an outer chamber, the outer chamber containing at least onechemical and a non-excited fluorescent dye. When the inner membranefractures or breaks, the at least one chemical in the inner chamber ismixed with the at least one chemical and the non-excited fluorescent dyein the outer chamber to create a chemiluminescence reaction.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cablesystem comprises (1) a central cable; (2) an inner membrane having ahigher minimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding thecentral cable, thereby creating an inner chamber, the inner chambercontaining a harmless, odiferous gas; and (3) a perforated outermembrane. When the inner membrane fractures or breaks, the gas exits theinner chamber and seeps out through the perforated outer membrane intothe atmosphere, thereby creating an observable smell.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a cablesystem comprises (1) a central cable and (2) a membrane having a higherminimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding the centralcable, thereby creating a chamber, the chamber containing a harmless,odiferous gas. When the membrane factures or breaks, the odiferous gasexits the chamber and seeps into the atmosphere, thereby creating anobservable smell.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forproviding a warning when a minimum bend radius of a cable is beingapproached comprises bending a cable system comprising (1) a centralcable; (2) an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radius thanthe central cable and surrounding the central cable, thereby creating aninner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a gas or at least onechemical; and (3) an outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane andcreating an outer chamber, the outer chamber comprising a gas or atleast one chemical; breaking or fracturing the inner membrane; and thegas or at least one chemical in the inner chamber entering the outerchamber, thereby creating a chemiluminescene reaction, a color, or asmell.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a method forproviding a warning when a minimum bend radius of a cable is beingapproached comprises bending a cable system comprising (1) a centralcable; (2) an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radius thanthe central cable and surrounding the central cable, thereby creating aninner chamber, the inner chamber comprising at least one chemical; and(3) a clear, transparent, or translucent outer membrane surrounding theinner membrane and creating an outer chamber, the outer chambercomprising at least one chemical and a non-excited fluorescent dye;breaking or fracturing the inner membrane; and mixing the at least onechemical in the inner chamber with the at least one chemical and thenon-excited fluorescent dye in the outer chamber to create achemiluminescence reaction.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor providing a warning when a bend radius of a cable is beingapproached comprises bending a cable system comprising (1) a centralcable; (2) an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radius thanthe central cable and surrounding the central cable, thereby creating aninner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a harmless, odiferous gas;and (3) a perforated outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane;breaking or fracturing the inner membrane; and the odiferous gas exitingthe perforated outer membrane, thereby creating an observable smell.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forproviding a warning when a bend radius of a cable is being approachedcomprises bending a cable system comprising (1) a central cable; and (2)a membrane having a higher minimum bend radius than the central cableand surrounding the central cable, thereby creating a chamber, thechamber comprising a harmless, odiferous gas; breaking or fracturing themembrane; and the odiferous gas exiting the membrane, thereby creatingan observable smell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a minimum bend radius of a cable.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cable system having an inner membranecreating an inner chamber and an outer membrane creating an outerchamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cable system having separating wallsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a cable system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for providing a warning when a bend radiusof a cable is being approached according to at least one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a hardware environment for practicing at least oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the present invention, a central cable is encased with, orsurrounded by, two membranes or sheaths. A first, inner membranesurrounds the central cable and creates an inner chamber. The innermembrane may be made of a fractureable material, including but notlimited to, glass, glass fibers, plastic, or ceramic. The inner membranehas a higher minimum bend radius than that of the central cable itself.A second, outer membrane surrounds the inner membrane and creates anouter chamber. The outer membrane may be made of a clear, transparent,or translucent material, including but not limited to, a plastic, glass,or polymer material. In specific embodiments, the outer membrane may besubstantially non-fractureable.

According to the present invention, in specific embodiments, the innerchamber and outer chamber may each contain a gas or at least onechemical compound or substance. When the minimum bend radius of theinner membrane is exceeded, the inner membrane breaks or fractures. Uponfracture of the inner membrane, the gas or at least one chemical of theinner chamber enters the outer chamber and/or vice versa to create achemilumiescence reaction, a color, or a smell. In specific embodiments,the chemicals of the inner chamber and the outer chamber are chosen sothat, when mixed, they produce a chemiluminescence reaction, or achemically-induced light emission, thereby signaling that the cablesystem (e.g., central cable and inner and outer membranes) cannot, orshould not, be further bent because the minimum bend radius of thecentral cable is being approached.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a central cable 200 has a minimum bendradius, for example, λ. An inner membrane 205 surrounds the cable 200and creates an inner chamber 210. The inner membrane 205 has a minimumbend radius, for example, λ+ε, where, in a specific embodiment, ε may beabout 0.1λ.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, an inner chamber 210created by the inner membrane 205 may contain at least one chemical, forexample, hydrogen peroxide. An outer membrane 215 surrounds the innermembrane 205 and creates an outer chamber 220. The outer chamber 220 maycomprise at least one chemical, such as a diphenyl oxidate, and a(non-excited) fluorescent dye. When the inner membrane 205 begins tofracture, the diphenyl oxideate and fluorescent dye from the outerchamber 220 mixes with the hydrogen peroxide from the inner chamber 210,thereby causing a chemiluminescence reaction. For example, the chemicalreaction may yield two molecules of phenol and one molecule ofperoxyacid ester (1,2-dioxetanedione). The peroxyacid ester decomposesspontaneously to carbon dioxide, releasing energy that excites thefluorescent dye, which then releases a photon. The wavelength of thephoton (i.e., the color of the emitted light) depends on the particulardye used. Such fluorescent dyes, known as fluorophores, each may have adifferent characteristic wavelength (e.g., emitting light in thevisible, infrared, or ultraviolet spectrum).

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, in order that thefluorescent dye not be quickly dissipated, the cable system may bedivided into a plurality of distinct sections, for example in the rangeof about 1 to about 2 feet per section, with separating walls to preventthe fluorescence from dissipating throughout the length of the cablesystem. This structure may be useful in cases where excessive bending ofthe cable system is confined to a small section and/or to make sure thatexcessive bending is recognized even if not caught immediately, byvirtue of the fact that the fluorescence is contained and notdissipated.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-4, at least one pair of separating walls300 may be added to the cable system to isolate at least one section ofthe inner chamber 305 surrounding central cable 200 and at least onesection of the outer chamber 310. When the minimum bend radius of the atleast one section of the inner membrane is exceeded and the innermembrane fractures or breaks, the resulting chemiluminescence reactionis confined to sections 305, 310. Thus, the resulting fluorescent lightdoes not dissipate quickly. In specific embodiments, the separatingwalls 300 may comprise double-walled sections between which the innerand outer chambers are free of chemicals.

In specific embodiments, the separating walls 300 may be made of anymaterial that will not be compromised by bending or flattening, but caneasily be cut through, for example, a plastic or polymer material. Inthe event that the central cable 200 needs to be cut (e.g., to get ridof a compromised section which has already undergone chemiluminescence,sections 305, 310), a cut may be made within or between a pair ofseparating walls 300. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the location of separating walls 300 may be appropriatelyindicated, for example, by externally printed, raised, or embossedmarkings which contrast with a clear, transparent, or translucent outermembrane found elsewhere along a length of the cable system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least onechemical of the inner chamber and the at least one chemical of the outerchamber mix to create a colored reaction or compound, rather than achemiluminescence reaction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cable systemmay comprise a sensor (225 in FIG. 2). The sensor 225 may be at leastone of an optical or spectrophotometric sensor. The sensor 225 may havethe ability to detect a change in color and/or light caused by thefracture or rupture of the inner membrane and provide a visual and/oraudible warning, for example, to an installer.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an outer membranemay comprise a perforated material, and an inner chamber may contain aharmless, odiferous gas observable via a human olfactory sense. The gasmay include, but is not limited to, methyl mercaptan and/or ethylmercaptan. Such gases are often added to natural gas to give it anespecially noticeable smell in the event of a leak. In a specificembodiment, the odiferous gas may comprise ammonium sulfide, whichprovides a recognizable rotten-eggs smell. This embodiment may beadvantageous in cases where potentially excessive cable bending takesplace out of sight of an installer and a chemiluminescence reactionwould be unobserved (e.g., when one or more cables are jammed into asub-floor). In this embodiment, it is not necessary for the perforatedouter membrane to be made of a clear, transparent, or translucentmaterial.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cable system maycomprise a single membrane surrounding the central cable therebycreating a chamber, the chamber containing a harmless, odiferous gasobservable via a human olfactory sense. The gas may include but is notlimited to, methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, or ammonium sulfide. Whenthe membrane fracture or breaks, the odiferous gas escapes into theatmosphere or environment where it can be smelled.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a method 500 for providing a warning whena minimum bend radius of a cable is being approached, according to thepresent invention, includes bending a cable system, 505, comprising 1) acentral cable; 2) an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radiusthan the central cable and surrounding the central cable, therebycreating an inner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a gas or atleast one chemical; and 3) an outer membrane surrounding the innermembrane, creating an outer chamber; breaking or fracturing the innermembrane, 510; such that the gas or at least one chemical in the innerchamber enters the outer chamber and/or vice versa, thereby creating achemiluminescence reaction, 515; color, 520; or observable smell 525.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a representative hardware environment forpracticing at least one embodiment of the invention is depicted. Thisschematic drawing illustrates a hardware configuration of an informationhandling/computer system in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe invention. The system comprises at least one processor or centralprocessing unit (CPU) 10. The CPUs 10 are interconnected with system bus12 to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM) 14, read-onlymemory (ROM) 16, and an input/output (I/O) adapter 18. The I/O adapter18 can connect to peripheral devices, such as disk units 11 and tapedrives 13, or other program storage devices that are readable by thesystem. The system can read the inventive instructions on the programstorage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodologyof at least one embodiment of the invention. The system further includesa user interface adapter 19 that connects a keyboard 15, mouse 17,speaker 24, microphone 22, and/or other user interface devices such as atouch screen device (not shown) to the bus 12 to gather user input.Additionally, a communication adapter 20 connects the bus 12 to a dataprocessing network 25, and a display adapter 21 connects the bus 12 to adisplay device 23 which may be embodied as an output device such as amonitor, printer, or transmitter, for example.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved.

It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/orflowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagramsand/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purposehardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, orcombinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a warning when a minimumbend radius of a cable is being approached, comprising: bending a cablesystem comprising (1) a central cable; (2) an inner membrane having ahigher minimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding thecentral cable, thereby creating an inner chamber, the inner chambercomprising a gas or at least one chemical; and (3) an outer membranesurrounding the inner membrane and creating an outer chamber, the outerchamber comprising a gas or at least one chemical; breaking orfracturing the inner membrane; and said gas or at least one chemical inthe inner chamber entering the outer chamber, thereby creating achemiluminescene reaction, a color, or a smell.
 2. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising detecting said chemiluminescene reaction orcolor with a sensor.
 3. A method for providing a warning when a minimumbend radius of a cable is being approached, comprising: bending a cablesystem comprising (1) a central cable; (2) an inner membrane having ahigher minimum bend radius than the central cable and surrounding thecentral cable, thereby creating an inner chamber, the inner chambercomprising at least one chemical; and (3) a clear, transparent, ortranslucent outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane, therebycreating an outer chamber, the outer chamber comprising at least onechemical and a non-excited fluorescent dye; breaking or fracturing theinner membrane; and mixing the at least one chemical in the innerchamber with the at least one chemical and the non-excited fluorescentdye in the outer chamber to create a chemiluminescence reaction.
 4. Amethod according to claim 3, wherein the inner membrane comprises afractureable material.
 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein thefractureable material comprises glass, plastic, or ceramic.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the at least one chemical in the innerchamber comprises hydrogen peroxide.
 7. A method according to claim 3,wherein the outer membrane comprises a non-fractureable material.
 8. Amethod according to claim 7, wherein the outer membrane comprises aplastic, glass, or polymer material.
 9. A method according to claim 7,wherein the outer membrane comprises glass fiber.
 10. A method accordingto claim 3, wherein the at least one chemical in the outer chambercomprises diphenyl oxideate and a fluorescent dye.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the cable system further comprises atleast one pair of separating walls that isolate at least one section ofthe inner chamber and at least one section of the outer chambersurrounding the central cable.
 12. A method according to claim 11,wherein the at least one pair of separating walls comprise adouble-walled section between which the inner and outer chambers arefree of any reactive gases or chemicals.
 13. A method according to claim11, wherein the at least one section comprises a plurality of sections.14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said cable system furthercomprises at least one marking on an exterior of the outer membrane toindicate a location of the at least one pair of separating walls.
 15. Amethod according to claim 12, further comprising cutting the cablesystem between said at least one pair of separating walls.
 16. A methodaccording to claim 3, further comprising detecting saidchemiluminescence reaction with a sensor.
 17. A cable system accordingto claim 3, wherein the central cable is not a fiber optic cable.
 18. Amethod for providing a warning when a bend radius of a cable is beingapproached, comprising: bending a cable system comprising (1) a centralcable; (2) an inner membrane having a higher minimum bend radius thanthe central cable and surrounding the central cable, thereby creating aninner chamber, the inner chamber comprising a harmless, odiferous gas;and (3) a perforated outer membrane surrounding the inner membrane;breaking or fracturing the inner membrane; and the odiferous gas exitingthe perforated outer membrane, thereby creating an observable smell. 19.A method according to claim 18, wherein said bending and/or breakingoccurs out of sight of an installer.
 20. A method according to claim 18,wherein the inner membrane comprises a fractureable material.
 21. Amethod according to claim 20, wherein the fractureable materialcomprises glass, plastic, or ceramic.
 22. A method according to claim18, wherein the odiferous gas comprises methyl mercaptan or ethylmercaptan.
 23. A method according to claim 18, wherein the odiferous gascomprises ammonium sulfide.
 24. A method according to claim 18, whereinthe central cable is not a fiber optic cable.
 25. A method for providinga warning when a bend radius of a cable is being approached, comprising:bending a cable system comprising (1) a central cable; and (2) amembrane having a higher minimum bend radius than the central cable andsurrounding the central cable, thereby creating a chamber, the chambercomprising a harmless, odiferous gas; breaking or fracturing themembrane; and the odiferous gas exiting the membrane, thereby creatingan observable smell.